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Originally Posted by GarthB
Nonsense.
From the NOAA:
"Lightning does not always strike the tallest object."
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True.
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"While tall pointy isolated objects are statistically more likely to be struck, by lightning, it’s not nearly reliable enough to rely on for safety. Lightning can still strike you near the tall object. Besides, the lightning electricity will likely spread out along the surface of the ground and can still kill you over 100 Ft from the “protecting” object.
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Also true.
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NO PLACE OUTSIDE IS SAFE NEAR A THUNDERSTORM!"
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False!
The situation described was not one of a single tall pointy conducting object near the place to be protected, in which case the single mast could indeed draw lighting to the area and possibly conduct it thru the ground to hurt someone near it. Rather, it was one of a
ring of such masts. The area in the center of such a ring would be as well protected as could be. Even if lightning were to strike one of the masts, by induction the ground current would run
away from the ring rather than thru it.
While it is true that lightning
could still strike in the middle of such a ring, and that current
could be conducted thru that area, it would be no more likely than would be the case for someone in a bldg. To say that it would be dangerous to be within it would be the same as saying it's dangerous to be in a bldg. in the middle of lightning.
And yes, if I weren't looking to get out of the rain, I
would go into the middle of such a ring of masts for lightning protection.
If you don't believe me, try experimenting with a spark coil and a ring of pins pointing in one direction from a conductor. See if you can ever get a spark to land in the middle, or for the current from a discharge to be conducted thru the middle. Of course the pins have to stick out far enough compared to the size of the ring, as was the case with this ring of metal light towers.
Robert